Controversial councillor quits

A COUNCILLOR at the centre of a police investigation over alleged racist and homophobic comments has quit.

Dave Small resigned from the Church Hill Seat on Redditch Borough Council yesterday (Thursday) and intends to stand again as an independent candidate when a by-election is called.

Mr Small was booted out by UKIP just over a week ago for his comments which included branding gay people perverts.

He had been resisting calls to quit from Conservative, Labour and UKIP councillors.

But Mr Small told the Standard he changed his mind after being publicly urged to stand again by council leader Bill Hartnett and despite the revelations about his views was confident of winning again.

"People will stand by their vote and vote for me again," he said.

A protest organised by Coun Joe Baker ahead of Monday's council meeting (June 9) at 6.15pm outside the Town Hall is still going to go-ahead as planned.

"It's to show a united front and that Redditch is not homophobic."

Mr Small was voluntarily interviewed by police last Friday (May 30) after being reported for making alleged homophobic and racist comments online and in a radio interview. He was not arrested and a property in the borough was searched by police.

A file will be submitted to the CPS once all investigations have been completed.